For
most of the species, the caudex is a water-reservoir for a dry period. One of them has a hollow caudex, in which ants
live. In return
for this home, they protect it from other insects.

Some
of the plants lose their branches and vines, when they dry out,
leaving only the caudex and the bigger roots. This reduces evaporation. Others will (in nature) grow larger and larger, and only
flower after many years.

Some
of my plants are dioecious, which means; there are different male- and
female plants. Others are monoecious; both male- and female flowers on
the same plant. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessary mean they can
self-pollinate.

Luckily,
it is possible to make cuttings of many of them. But, the cuttings don't
necessarily form a caudex.

Some
caudexes lay deep down in the ground, protected from extreme weather
conditions and animals. Some of these won't stand to be exposed,
and don't seems so interesting to me. Others are partly exposed, and
finally those which are fully exposed. That can be a result of
habitat: bare rocks with small cracks, leaving no room for a caudex.

Some
of the caudiciforms are used as a crop around the world, for
instance the yam. Others are highly poisonous, as a natural result of
living in hostile environments, where every leaf is valuable for both
animals and plants.